Saudi ‘Arheb’ Offers Smart Shared Transport Solutions, Preserves Saudi Environment

Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)
Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)
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Saudi ‘Arheb’ Offers Smart Shared Transport Solutions, Preserves Saudi Environment

Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)
Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)

Saudi Arabia’s “Arheb” transportation platform will connect drivers and passengers wishing to travel together between the country’s governorates and cities, in addition to neighboring Gulf and Arab countries.

Arheb ensures the lowest cost of transportation for users and provides weekly and monthly packages for employees and students at competitive prices.

Arheb is the first ridesharing application in Asia and Africa that offers an integrated carbon footprint calculator.

The application aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Saudi Green” initiative, which works to increase Saudi Arabia’s dependence on clean energy, reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment.

“Arheb is a 100 % Saudi application launched from Makkah. It employs 1,800 captains, including 500 women,” said Salem bin Shamekh, general manager of the Arheb Information Technology Company.

“It is considered the giant of shared transportation within cities in Saudi Arabia, and also provides private economic and luxury trips outside the cities,” Shamekh told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Our prices are very acceptable,” affirmed the general manager.

Arheb provides ridesharing with the lowest seat cost in intercity travel and the cheapest commission in ridesharing applications.

The application offers travels to the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan.

Prices for trips between Saudi cities start at SAR 19 ($5).

The starting fares for trips from Saudi Arabia to Gulf countries is SAR 19 ($5) as well.

From Riyadh to Doha it costs SAR 99 ($26.4). Prices from Tabuk to Amman, the capital of Jordan, start at SAR 89 ($23.7).

Shamekh revealed that Arheb will be participating in the upcoming Hajj season by providing a fleet of buses as well as shared cars between cities to serve the pilgrims, indicating that the reservation of seats will be through the application directly.



World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025

World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025
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World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025

World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025

The World Bank raised on Thursday its forecast for China's economic growth in 2024 and 2025, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down next year.
The world's second-biggest economy has struggled this year, mainly due to a property crisis and tepid domestic demand. An expected hike in US tariffs on its goods when US President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January may also hit growth.
"Addressing challenges in the property sector, strengthening social safety nets, and improving local government finances will be essential to unlocking a sustained recovery," Mara Warwick, the World Bank's country director for China, said.
"It is important to balance short-term support to growth with long-term structural reforms," she added in a statement.
Thanks to the effect of recent policy easing and near-term export strength, the World Bank sees China's gross domestic product growth at 4.9% this year, up from its June forecast of 4.8%.
Beijing set a growth target of "around 5%" this year, a goal it says it is confident of achieving.
Although growth for 2025 is also expected to fall to 4.5%, that is still higher than the World Bank's earlier forecast of 4.1%.
Slower household income growth and the negative wealth effect from lower home prices are expected to weigh on consumption into 2025, the Bank added.
To revive growth, Chinese authorities have agreed to issue a record 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) in special treasury bonds next year, Reuters reported this week.
The figures will not be officially unveiled until the annual meeting of China's parliament, the National People's Congress, in March 2025, and could still change before then.
While the housing regulator will continue efforts to stem further declines in China's real estate market next year, the World Bank said a turnaround in the sector was not anticipated until late 2025.
China's middle class has expanded significantly since the 2010s, encompassing 32% of the population in 2021, but World Bank estimates suggest about 55% remain "economically insecure", underscoring the need to generate opportunities.